valor the whole army admired, although it is said that a few marshals were secretly jealous of his royal crown.  I have learned since, that the Emperor reached Warsaw on the 10th, having avoided passing through Wilna by making a circuit through the suburbs; and at last, after passing through Silesia, he had arrived at Dresden, where the good and faithful King of Saxony, although very ill, had himself borne to the Emperor.  From this place his Majesty had followed the road by Nassau and Mayence.

I followed also the same route, but not with the same rapidity, although I lost no time.  Everywhere, and above all in Poland at the places where I stopped, I was astonished to find the feeling of security I saw manifested.  From all directions I heard the report that the Emperor was to return at the head of an army of three hundred thousand men.  The Emperor had been known to do such surprising things, that nothing seemed impossible; and I learned that he himself had spread these reports on his passage, in order to restore the courage of the population.  In several places I could procure no horses; and consequently, in spite of all my zeal, I did not reach Paris until six or eight days after the Emperor.

I had hardly alighted from my carriage, when the Emperor, who had been informed of my arrival, had me summoned.  I observed to the messenger that I was not in a condition which would allow me to present myself before his Majesty.  “That makes no difference,” replied he; “the Emperor wishes you to come immediately, just as you are.”  I obeyed instantly; and went, or rather ran, to the Emperor’s cabinet, where I found him with the Empress, Queen Hortense, and another person whose name I do not perfectly recall.  The Emperor deigned to give me a most cordial welcome; and as the Empress seemed to pay no attention to me, said to her in a manner whose kindness I shall never forget, “Louise, do you not recognize Constant?”

“I perceived him.” [Elsewhere Constant has stated her reply was, “I had not perceived him.”] This was the only reply of her Majesty the Empress; but such was not the case with Queen Hortense, who welcomed me as kindly as her adorable mother had always done.

The Emperor was very gay, and seemed to have forgotten all his fatigue.  I was about to retire respectfully; but his Majesty said to me, “No, Constant, remain a minute longer, and tell me what you saw on your road.”  Even if I had any intention to conceal from the Emperor a part of the truth, taken thus unawares I should have lacked the time to prepare an agreeable falsehood; so I said to him that everywhere, even in Silesia, my eyes had been struck by the same frightful spectacle, for everywhere I had seen the dead and the dying, and poor unfortunates struggling hopelessly against cold and hunger.  “That is true, that is true,” he said; “go and rest, my poor boy, you must be in need of it.  To-morrow you will resume your service.”